What Are the Best Ways to Keep Your Furnace Running for Years?

The thought of making a major purchase like a new furnace isn’t likely to fill you with joy and excitement. The good news is that with the right care and maintenance, you can make your current furnace run more efficiently and last longer. Keep reading to find out the best ways to improve your furnace lifespan.

Change Your Filters

A filter that’s clogged with dust and grime chokes your furnace. This restriction of airflow can cause overheating and damage to critical system components. During the heavy-use winter months, inspect your air filters every month and replace them if they’re dirty.

Adjust Thermostat Settings

If there’s nobody home during part of the day, set your thermostat lower to allow your furnace to rest. That will slow down the effects of use as well as help you save energy and money.

Get Timely Annual Maintenance

Professional maintenance is crucial to increasing the lifespan of any heating or cooling system. Well-maintained HVAC units last longer than poorly maintained ones. Have an HVAC contractor check your system and tune it up once in the fall and once in the spring, before the harsher months.

Seal Air Leaks

Air leaks allow the cold outdoor air to infiltrate your home while letting your home’s heat escape. Consequently, your furnace is forced to work extra hard to keep you comfortable. Seal up the air leaks around your house to save your furnace from unnecessary wear.

If you have an older furnace, it’s easy to blame it for any indoor comfort issues and even want to consider replacing it. However, air leaks may be the culprit. Therefore, by sealing air leaks, you could also save yourself from replacing your furnace when it’s not absolutely necessary to do so.

Retrofit Your Furnace

Retrofitting your existing furnace can also help you improve its efficiency and life span and avoid incurring the cost of a new system. Some of the retrofits that you can consider are:

• Vent dampers
• Intermittent ignition devices
• Barometric flue damper
• Ductwork upgrades
• Derating oil or gas burners
• Installing programmable thermostats

Making a few changes can significantly extend your furnace’s life span while maintaining peak heating performance levels. If you’re in the Lorain area and want a local professional to help you maintain, install, or repair your furnace, contact the heating experts at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.